FIFA boss defends World Cup voting

Blatter: Russia, Qatar chosen to help grow game.

Published 12:00 am, Tuesday, December 14, 2010

FIFA President Sepp Blatter insisted Monday that votes to award World Cups to Russia and Qatar were based on developing soccer and had nothing to do with money.

He also noted while speaking in Johannesburg that the world's biggest soccer tournament will have to adjust to more than just the sweltering desert heat when it takes its partylike atmosphere to the Middle East in 2022.

Blatter said that homosexual fans “should refrain from any sexual activities” that are illegal in Qatar.

Drinking alcohol also is restricted in the country, but Blatter hopes soccer's universal appeal will bridge cultural differences at the 2022 event.

FIFA has been criticized for choosing Russia and Qatar over more traditional soccer countries during a Dec. 2 vote that took place without two members of the executive committee who were suspended for allegedly agreeing to take money for their support.

In his first public address since the vote, Blatter defended the choices.

“We go to Eastern Europe, to Russia where the World Cup has never been. And later on, we go to the Middle East, we go to the Arabic world, we go to the Islamic world,” Blatter said.

“This is the development of football, and don't speak about money. This has nothing to do with money, as it had nothing to do with money here in Africa. It has to do with the development of the game,” he said.

Man U tops Arsenal: Manchester United went two points clear at the top of the Premier League after Park Ji-sung's 41st-minute goal gave Alex Ferguson's side a 1-0 victory in the high-stakes game with Arsenal at Old Trafford.

United was the better side throughout and would have won by a more handsome margin had Wayne Rooney not missed a 73rd-minute penalty kick.

Some of the Chilean miners rescued in October took part in a training session with United hours before the match.

The miners arrived in Manchester on Sunday and were taken to a reception hosted by United great Bobby Charlton, who is the son of a miner.

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